On Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street, our award-winning Woodhaven Business Improvement District-sponsored holiday lights are brightly shining, marking the beginning and the end of Woodhaven’s portion of Jamaica Avenue. (As since the inception of our Woodhaven Business Improvement District, I have wanted to mark our boundaries, so that the difference in our Jamaica Avenue is very evident. Also, we are the only commercial strip in our area with lights!)

Our holiday music sounds again (as during the last 16 years) fills the avenue air, as shoppers feel the holiday spirit, singing along with the songs as they shop. Our stores on our “Everything” Jamaica Avenue also are in tune and bright with bargains, bargains, bargains! So shop all of the many stores old and new on our Jamaica Avenue. Every store offering 30 to 50 percent discounts.

If you need the latest hot computer or any computer components, cell phones, holiday cards, special collectibles, unique gifts or toys - you don’t have to fight the crowds at the malls, shop right here. It’s all here in your neighborhood within walking distance.

Dress your family or yourself, for there are boutique stores with suits, blouses, dresses, jackets, leather and down and New Year’s Eve gowns for the pretty ladies. Also, jackets, shirts, casual or formal slacks for all those handsome Woodhaven men (one men’s store offering one suit, shirts and ties for free with other purchases).

Let our storeowners offer you their personalized services. So don’t travel to the Malls, with their lack of salespersons, impersonal indifferent service, long lines, higher prices, and finding your merchandise on your own. Shop locally and save precious gas; eat locally and keep your money in your community - your neighborhood - especially now when economically it is so important to our small store and business owners who depend on you for their livelihood.

Our Woodhaven Business Improvement District also has private security patrolling our avenue streets for your safety. As I have stated before, this is the only Business Improvement District in our Southeast Queens area (there are only three others and located all in Jamaica) where your stores and businesses because of their monetary contributions bring you all of these amenities.

So spend your gift money in your avenue stores and businesses that care. This year we have welcomed some new stores and businesses to our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue family. Look for them in our WBID advertisements. The strong monetary investment of the new stores and businesses on our avenue are a true testament to our Woodhaven’s vitality and stability.

As I have always stated, you need a strong commercial Strip to support a strong residential Community.

Notes of interest: HEAP applications are available for assistance with your regular heating bills and special funding for Sandy-related bills and repairs. Please call Honorable Helen Marshall’s Office at (718) 286-2650 for more information. Also if you need information on this and any other Social Services please call (800) 692-0557.

If you are in need of assistance, please enter a store or business on our avenue. Then go to the register and request that they call 911 or your family for this is an emergency. The number for our 102nd Precinct is (718) 805-8200.

FEMA is hiring local residents. People interested in applying for these positions can search online at www.newyork.us.jobs, then insert word “FEMA” in the website keyword search box to access the postings.

This year’s Woodhaven Business Improvement District-sponsored Holidays in Woodhaven Weekend will arrive on Friday, December 7, at 6:30 p.m. with the Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony in Forest Parkway Plaza off Jamaica Avenue.

The only thing missing this year will be our beautiful Christmas tree that was named the 4th Best Tree in N.Y.C. by the Daily News and the only planted real tree named last year. It unfortunately was a casualty of Sandy, but we will have a tree to light along with our Menorah.

And the next day on Saturday December 8, the “Welcome Santa to Woodhaven” Parade, kicks off at noon from 100th Street marching down Jamaica Avenue to Dexter Court, where Santa and Mrs. Santa Claus will greet the children both young and young at heart. Bring your cameras.

After this weekend, the Woodhaven Business Improvement District will take free pictures with Santa Claus and friends at our Forest Parkway Plaza area on Saturday, December 15, and December 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. (weather permitting).

May God bless the brave honorable men and women of our armed forces fighting for our way of life, especially at this time of year so far away from home. May God bless our disabled veterans and may God bless our America.